Lexi Webster
Christmas Island is an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean, about 224 miles south of the island of Java and 870 miles northwest of Australia. The island was named by Captain William Mynors of the British East India Company, who sighted it on Christmas Day in 1643. It was first settled in the late 19th century after Britain annexed the island in 1888 following the discovery of abundant phosphate deposits. In 1958, Britain transferred Christmas Island to Australia, and it became an Australian territory on 1 October 1958. Today, the island is home to a diverse population, including many ethnic Chinese, a small number of Europeans, and Malay labourers. The economy has traditionally been based on phosphate mining, but with recoverable reserves dwindling, the focus has shifted towards developing tourism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Christmas Island |
| Official Name | Territory of Christmas Island |
| Location | Indian Ocean |
| Distance from Australia | 1,550 km (840 nmi) |
| Area | 135 sq. km (52 sq. mi) |
| Highest Point | Murray Hill, 361 m (1,184 ft) |
| Population | 1,692 (2016) |
| Status | Australian external territory |
| Governance | Administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development |
| Legal System | Under the authority of the Governor-General of Australia and Australian law |
| Representation | An administrator appointed by the Governor-General represents the Minister |
| Jurisdiction | No formal state jurisdiction; Western Australian laws applied under the Christmas Island Act 1958 |
| Economy | Historically based on phosphate mining; transitioning to tourism |
| Education | Based on the Australian curriculum |
| Health | Services provided by the IOTHS and Western Australian State Government agencies |
| Political Affiliation | Australian Indian Ocean Territories (with the Cocos (Keeling) Islands) |
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What You'll Learn
Christmas Island is an Australian external territory
Christmas Island became an Australian territory on 1 October 1958, and this day is celebrated annually on the first Monday in October as Territory Day. The island was previously a separate Crown colony and was under the jurisdiction of the British Colony of Singapore after World War II. The transfer of ownership to Australia involved a payment of £2.9 million in compensation to the Singapore administration for lost revenue.
Under the Christmas Island Act 1958, Western Australian laws are applied to Christmas Island, and the Western Australian courts have judicial power over the island. However, the federal government has the discretion to not apply or partially apply these laws, and the power to legislate for the territory is delegated to the state by the federal government. The Australian government has the authority to make laws for Christmas Island under Section 122 of the Australian Constitution, and all Australian laws and regulations apply unless explicitly excluded.
The territory is administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development, on behalf of the Minister with responsibility for the Territories. An Administrator, appointed by the Governor-General, represents the Minister on Christmas Island. The legal system of Christmas Island falls under the authority of the Governor-General of Australia and Australian law.
The island has a laid-back multicultural atmosphere, with a population including ethnic Chinese, Europeans, and Malay labourers. The economy was historically based on the mining and extraction of phosphate, but with reserves nearly exhausted, the focus has shifted to developing tourism. The island's unique flora and fauna, including its tropical rainforests, are protected in the Christmas Island National Park, which covers 64% of the island.
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It is part of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories
Christmas Island is an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean. It is about 350 kilometres (190 nautical miles) south of Java and Sumatra and about 1,550 kilometres (840 nautical miles) northwest of the closest point on the Australian mainland. The island was first sighted by Richard Rowe of the Thomas in 1615, but it was named by Captain William Mynors of the British East India Company, who discovered it on Christmas Day 1643.
Christmas Island became an Australian territory on 1 October 1958, and this day is celebrated annually on the first Monday in October as Territory Day. The island is administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development, on behalf of the Minister with responsibility for the Territories. An Administrator, appointed by the Governor-General, represents the Minister on Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
Since 1997, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands together have been called the Australian Indian Ocean Territories and share a single administrator who resides on Christmas Island. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands voted for integration in 1984, and together with Christmas Island, these two territories comprise the Australian Indian Ocean Territories.
The Australian Indian Ocean Territories are constitutionally part of Australia, and all Australian Government laws and regulations apply unless explicitly excluded. Commonwealth laws apply automatically to the territories unless expressly stated otherwise. The Territories Law Reform Act 1992 (Cth) amended the Christmas Island Act to introduce a modern body of Australian law to Christmas Island, including provisions to enliven the application of most Australian Government laws and regulations and to apply Western Australian laws.
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The island's administration falls under the Australian government
Christmas Island is an external territory of Australia, which means it falls under the administration of the Australian government. The island became an Australian territory on 1 October 1958, and this day is celebrated annually on the first Monday in October as Territory Day.
The Australian Government has the power to make laws for the government of any territory, including Christmas Island, under section 122 of the Australian Constitution. The island has no state-level government, so the Australian Government is responsible for providing state-type laws and services. The territory is administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development, on behalf of the Minister with responsibility for the Territories.
An Administrator, appointed by the Governor-General, represents the Minister on Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The Administrator has a staff for secretariat, education, postal, police, radio, and harbour duties. The legal system of Christmas Island is under the authority of the Governor-General of Australia and Australian law.
Under the federal government's Christmas Island Act 1958, Western Australian laws are applied to Christmas Island. The act also gives Western Australian courts judicial power over Christmas Island. However, Christmas Island remains constitutionally distinct from Western Australia, and the power of the state to legislate for the territory is delegated by the federal government.
The Australian government provides services through the Christmas Island Administration and the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.
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The island's residents are mostly Australian citizens
Christmas Island is an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean, about 224 miles (360 km) south of the island of Java and 870 miles (1,400 km) northwest of Australia. The island was first sighted by Richard Rowe in 1615, and was given its name by Captain William Mynors, who discovered it on Christmas Day 1643.
The island was annexed by Britain in 1888 and commercial mining of phosphate deposits began in 1899. In 1948, the Australian and New Zealand governments acquired the interests and assets of the Christmas Island Phosphate Company. Christmas Island officially became an Australian territory on 1 October 1958, a day now celebrated annually as Territory Day.
The Australian government has the power to make laws for the territory under section 122 of the Australian Constitution, and Western Australian courts have judicial power over the island. An administrator appointed by the Australian Governor-General represents the Minister on Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The island falls under no formal state jurisdiction, but the Western Australian government provides many services, with costs met by the federal government.
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The island's unique flora and fauna are protected
Christmas Island is an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean. It is officially known as the Territory of Christmas Island and is about 350 kilometres (190 nautical miles) south of Java and Sumatra and about 1,550 kilometres (840 nautical miles) northwest of the closest point on the Australian mainland. The island has a land area of 135 square kilometres (52 square miles) and is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna.
The rainforests of Christmas Island are particularly noteworthy for their rich biodiversity. They are home to various endemic plant species, including Planchonella duclitan, Syzygium nervosum, Tristiropsis acutangula, Inocarpus fagifer, and Hernandia ovigera. The mid-storey species include two endemic trees unique to the island: the Christmas Island palm, Arenga listeri, and the screw pine, Pandanus elatus. The rainforests also provide a habitat for a range of bird species, such as the Christmas Island hawk-owl, thrush, goshawk, emerald dove, imperial pigeon, glossy swiftlet, and white eye. Four of these bird species are listed as threatened.
The island's fauna has been impacted by the introduction of exotic species, such as cats, dogs, and black rats. Several endemic mammal species, including the diurnal bulldog rat and the nocturnal Maclear's rat, have sadly gone extinct due to the presence of black rats. However, efforts are being made to protect the remaining fauna. All land crabs on Christmas Island are protected by law, and it is an offence to recklessly or deliberately kill them or interfere with their wildlife.
The Christmas Island National Park plays a crucial role in safeguarding the island's ecosystems and providing a safe haven for its unique flora and fauna. Through its management and conservation efforts, the park ensures that the natural wonders of Christmas Island are preserved for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Christmas Island is an external territory of Australia.
Christmas Island became an Australian territory on 1 October 1958.
The population of Christmas Island includes many ethnic Chinese, a small number of European descendants, and Malay labourers. In 2016, the population was 1,692.
